Police Speed Enforcement Cameras

Whether you love them or hate them, there's no escaping the fact that Speed Cameras are popping up all over the UK. There are an estimated 7,000 cameras on our tiny island, and millions of pounds in revenue is gained each year by fining speeding motorists.

Safety Camera Partnerships

In the UK, Safety Camera Partnerships are local government organisations set up to be part of the National Safety Camera Scheme. They are given the cash raised from speeding fines in their locality to reinvest back into speed enforcement and red light camera enforcement at so called 'hot spots'.

The stated objective is to reduce death and serious injury by reducing the level of speeding and the severity of the offences, as well as to bring down the number of people 'running' red lights. They state that they want to bring these changes about by preventing and detecting offenders, enforcing speed and red light offences by using cameras and driver education schemes.

Gatso

The most commonly spotted speed camera in the UK is the Gatso. Manufactured by a Dutch company named Gatsomeer BV, it was invented by 1950's rally driver Maurice Gatsonides and uses a radar to measure the speed of vehicles passing it. It then photographs the vehicle from behind, after it has gone past the device travelling at a speed above the preset maximum limit.

Gatso installations are identifiable by a series of white lines painted on the road. The camera will usually take two photographs with a time interval (usually somewhere around the 0.5 second mark) and the vehicle's position when compared with the white road markings will be used to work out approximately how fast the car was travelling and verify the reported speed if the driver decides to dispute the offence.

Up until April 2007 all speed cameras in the UK had to have the rear pannel painted yellow to identify the whereabouts of it, however, since the new rules came into play in April 2007, it ceases to be an obligation and it remains to be seen whether the yellow cameras will start to become less visible, in an attempt to catch out more speeding motorists.

Mobile Speed Cameras

A mobile speed camera is a road vehicle fitted with speed camera equipment which can park on bridges or other places that static speed cameras would be unable to access.

They can come in many different guises but generally, you can spot them either as a white van with the equipment poking out of the back or out of a sliding panel along the side. They have to carry a speed camera warning logo, but this as a warning is largely useless because by the time you're close enough to see it, they've already recorded your speed.

There has also been an increase of motorcycle based mobile speed cameras to allow monitoring in places that even the vans cannot get to.

SPECS

SPECS is a speed camera system that is made by Speed Check Services Limited, a company based in the UK.

The cameras operate as one or two sets along any given route and the average speed over the distance travelled between two cameras is worked out using automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR). This is a variant of camera likely to become more popular in the future, as the use of ANPR becomes more widespread.

Truvelo

Truvelo cameras are made by a South African company named Truvelo Manufacturers Ltd.

The truvelo camera takes pictures from either the front or rear (but more commonly the front) using a flash gun filtered with a magenta filter so that the driver isn't blinded by the sudden flash in their eyes.

The reflected light provides the film with the right exposure and results in a clear photograph of the driver committing the offence.

Piezo-electric road strips are set a measured distance apart into the road in front of the camera and the time between compressions caused by the vehicle is measured and this gives the resulting speed of the car.

So remember, next time you notice your needle going over the speed limit - Big Brother really is watching you, and he might just be waiting to take your photograph too!

Can i ask does a moblie police camera van need road markings to detect speed

Slim - 1-Sep-19 @ 7:50 PM

Do mobile vans have to have the windows open to catch you?

Dave - 21-Aug-19 @ 6:31 PM

Is it legal for a mobile camera to take pictures of motorists from an emergency layby which is visibly sign posted NO PARKING PERMITTED EXCEPT IN AN EMERGENCY.

Taz - 19-Mar-19 @ 5:31 PM

Is it ok for a speed camera van to be parked on a road, meters away from a school where you have to overtake it to get passed? Is it ok for a speed camera van to be parked half on and off the pavement at the same location as above? Is it ok for a speed camera van to be parked on the pavement , same location.

CB - 10-Mar-19 @ 10:53 AM

Can a mobile speed camera operate legally whilst on a hill crest? I only ask as its to my understanding that they can only operate on straight flat roads but can't over hill bows and bends. To me the reasons they can't operate over a hills bow should be the same as to why they couldn't operate on a hills crest. Could you please clarify this form me?

A.Hale - 26-Jan-19 @ 9:33 AM

Can a mobile speed camera operate legallywhilst parked on a hill crest. I only ask as its to my understanding that they can only operate on straight flat roads but can't operate over a hills bow or bends. This to me also means that for the reasons they can't operate over a hill should should apply to being on a hill crest. Could you please clarify?

A.hale - 26-Jan-19 @ 9:27 AM

A Speed camera van parked on an emergency layby in Scotland (A 90 AWPR North) and operating.
Is it enforceable?

mel - 21-Dec-18 @ 9:56 AM

Can a speed camera van park on a pavement and catch oncoming traffic?

karlos - 22-Nov-18 @ 9:59 AM

Can you get caught driving through a 20 zone when the mobile camera is clearly park in a 30 zone

Jay - 9-Oct-18 @ 12:11 PM

Can mobile camera vans park on a bus stop and illeagelly park and carry out there task ?of issuing tickets for speeding.
Where it has been made a requirement that you have to work on part of the pavement (marked areas)so not to block the road, is it then ok for a cctv van to ignore this requirement and park on the road, effectively causing a dangerous narrowing of the carriage way, vehicles that do not park half on and half off do get parking tickets ?

Beast - 14-Sep-18 @ 4:26 PM

Katy - Your Question:

Do the new speed camera vans have to have their windows open to be operating, or can they fire through the glass even though it has signs over it? I’ve read that lasers can’t be fired through because of the light scattering but I don’t know if the newer vans are more hi tech?

Our Response:

Here's what the government information says: "The Home Office does not explicitly prohibit use of laser devices through closed windows or from moving vehicles. Officers, however, are expected to consider the guidance offered in the ACPO document Guide for the operational use of speed and red-light offence detection technology which advises against the use of laser speedmeters through glass or plastic screens, and only describes usage from a fixed point on the side of the road."

SaferMotoring - 6-Aug-18 @ 12:54 PM

Do the new speed camera vans have to have their windows open to be operating, or can they fire through the glass even though it has signs over it? I’ve read that lasers can’t be fired through because of the light scattering but I don’t know if the newer vans are more hi tech?

Katy - 4-Aug-18 @ 10:01 AM

Can a mobile speed camera operate legally from the opposite of a road that has no speed limit signs on the side of the vehicle it is photographing/catching?

Jinxed - 7-Jun-18 @ 3:37 PM

Can a speed camera van operate legally on a road that has no speed limit signs?

Browbeaten Bill - 7-Jun-18 @ 3:27 PM

Dave Hugill - Your Question:

Can a speed camera van park with in 200 meters of a speed increase area

Our Response:

Yes, why wouldn't it?

SaferMotoring - 27-Mar-18 @ 11:56 AM

Can a speed camera van park with in 200 meters of a speed increase area

Dave Hugill - 24-Mar-18 @ 12:29 PM

Can police car blocked the bus stop to enforce the speeding?

Riz - 11-Oct-17 @ 5:05 PM

Mark - Your Question:

I was caught speeding in a 30 doing 39 but the mobile van was parked directly under the national speed sign of 50 on leaving the 30 zone. It was not visible til I was on top of it. Location Sadberg County Durham.

Our Response:

If you feel the speed sign was not sufficiently visible you could try appealing (as long as you can provide photographic evidence etc). If your complaint is about the siting of the speed camera, this will not be considered grounds to reject it.

SaferMotoring - 30-Mar-17 @ 12:39 PM

I was caught speeding in a 30 doing 39 but the mobile van was parked directly under the national speed sign of 50 on leaving the 30 zone. It was not visible til i was on top of it. Location Sadberg County Durham.

Mark - 29-Mar-17 @ 3:19 PM

Staceym - Your Question:

I live in a quiet rural village and have been done by the local residents doing 37 in a 30. When I went past the other day there was a group of them in dark clothing in the bushes stepping out and taking speeds. Is this legally standing?

Our Response:

Community Speedwatch groups are formed with the support of the police. They can record the speed of motorists and pass this information on to the police. The police may then issue a warning but cannot take any other action. While high viz apparel is recommended for safety, it's not a legal requirement.

SaferMotoring - 23-Feb-17 @ 12:47 PM

I live in a quiet rural village and have been done by the local residents doing 37 in a 30. When I went past the other day there was a group of them in dark clothing in the bushes stepping out and taking speeds. Is this legally standing?

Staceym - 22-Feb-17 @ 4:47 PM

Is there anything in the law saying "how far speed camera vans have to be apart" I ask as my son thinks he many have be caught by 2 vans about 1/4 of a mile apart. He knows one did get him, as he has been told by his firm one is on the way to him. Children!
Thank you
Mat

Mat - 8-Feb-17 @ 9:55 PM

Hi, I have recently been issued with a NoP. The issue I have is that the mobile speed camera van was parked on the right hand side of the A48 in a bus stop, is this legal.
PK

PK - 12-Jan-17 @ 4:20 PM

I have a question I have received a nip in post
The time day & road but not direction ie north bound etc
Should this be informed
& now the other thing the ticket states I was doing 80mph how ever I no my speedo is out by 5mph & when I was clocked my speedo was just above 70 mph meaning 65/66
If the camera is calibratedto be right by law then how can they prosecut as a standard car does not get calibrated how can you be liable as you only drive to what you can only assume is correctunlike lorrys & coaches that it's law to have them calibrated every year
So how can the fine you the van is second/3rd hand & put my trust in that the speedo is correct

Sonicboom - 4-Nov-16 @ 1:12 AM

Hello I was traveling up the A19 until I saw speed camera van on the opposite side of the road in a lay by with the rear camera facing the traffic coming the other way. Speed limit is 70 are they allowed to aim over the central barrier and aim you going away from the van?

Keyboard123 - 2-Nov-16 @ 1:42 PM

Can a mobile speed camera police van,sit on a bridge overlooking a duel carriage way.
The van is hidden behind the wall of the bridge with just a little bit of the top showing but enough for the camera.
The chevrons and the camera signs are not visible as the van is parked length ways.
I think that the van was recording vehicles that were moving away from the bridge, so on coming cars would not see it at all.can the police do this

Lou - 6-Aug-16 @ 5:44 PM

CLAZ - Your Question:

Hi, I have recently been issued with a NoP. The issue I have is that the van used was parked on the right hand side (Overtaking lane side) of a dual carriageway in a form of a layby. this is a clearway with a solid white line running the length of the carriageway. The question I have is are they allowed to pull in to this "lay-by" from the fast lane and park on a clearway to take the images? I know they can park on clearways but on the right hand side of the carraigeway???? seems illegal to me but could do with some guidance please

Our Response:

Even of the police are parked unlawfully (and we do not know the area so cannot comment) it would not be seens as a good reason to reject your speeding penalty unfortunately.

SaferMotoring - 15-Jun-16 @ 12:37 PM

Hi, I have recently been issued with a NoP. The issue I have is that the van used was parked on the right hand side (Overtaking lane side) of a dual carriageway in a form of a layby. this is a clearway with a solid white line running the length of the carriageway. The question i have is are they allowed to pull in to this "lay-by" from the fast lane and park on a clearway to take the images? I know they can park on clearways but on the right hand side of the carraigeway???? seems illegal to me but could do with some guidance please

CLAZ - 13-Jun-16 @ 8:00 PM

koval - Your Question:

ITS possible speed camera monitoring in privet car. For example like Citroën piccaso.???S

Our Response:

Yes, the police operate from many types of "under cover" vehicle, although we do not have any details of specific makes etc.

SaferMotoring - 22-Feb-16 @ 2:33 PM

ITS possible speed camera monitoring in privet car. For example like Citroën piccaso.???S